15 Day Affordable Israel & Jordan 2017 Itinerary

Half Day Bethlehem 2:00 PM On this excursion, you will leave the State of Israel and cross the border to the Palestinian Authority. You will leave your Israeli guide and driver on the Israeli side, and upon arriving into the West Bank, you will be met by your Palestinian tour guide who will accompany you on this tour to Bethlehem. Large groups will necessarily split into smaller groups utilizing local shuttle buses, which will take you to visit the Church of the Nativity, commemorating the birthplace of Jesus Christ, with many restoration projects instituted throughout the years. Presently the facade of the Church of the Nativity is encircled by the high walls of the three convents: the Franciscan on the northeast side, and the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox on the southeast side. A shopping stop for local souvenirs and olive wood handicrafts, a principal source of local income, is included in the tour. Please note that Bethlehem is located six miles south of Jerusalem in the West Bank and governed by the Palestinian National Authority. The Church is currently undergoing renovations which are scheduled to continue through 2017. Expect to see scaffolding on parts of the structure, and as work is ongoing, there may be construction noise during normal visit hours. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 4 Price : $33 Full Day Masada & Dead Sea The full day tour to Masada and the Dead Sea begins with a drive through the Judean Desert and along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ascend the towering desert mesa via cable car to visit the excavations of the fortress of King Herod and last stronghold of the Zealots against the Romans. Here you'll see many of the original structures such as the synagogue and storehouses that have been painstakingly restored by archaeologists. At the base, visit the Museum of Masada that combines archaeological artifacts with a narrated guided tour of the Story of Masada. Then, journey via Ein Gedi to the Dead Sea for an "unsinkable" swim in the buoyant, salty waters. Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel. Approximate tour duration is 9 hours. OnDay : 5 Price : $89 Illuminated Jerusalem, Dinner & Sound & Light Show Jerusalem at night is truly a sight to behold, with the city's magnificent architecture beautifully illuminated. The evening begins with dinner at a popular restaurant. Next, drive to the Tower of David to attend the spectacular "Sound & Light" Show that tells the story of Jerusalem accompanied by original music and virtual reality images. Return to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 5 Price : $69 Half Day Jerusalem Old City Jewish Quarter The tour of the Old City begins at the Zion Gate, where provisions for the Jewish Quarter were smuggled during the War of Independence. Walk to the Cardo, the ancient Roman Street that was the main shopping area during the Roman and Byzantine Periods. Visit the Jewish Quarter and view the four Sephardic Synagogues, each one built separately to fit the needs of the Sephardic community at the time of its construction. Next, tour the excavated site of the Burnt House, believed to be set ablaze by the Romans during the siege of Jerusalem. Lastly, tour the Southern Wall excavations and visit the Davidson Center in the Archaeological Park. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 6 Price : $55 Half Day Jerusalem New City View the Supreme Court building and the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, as you drive to visit the stunning Israel Museum. Here, view the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the miniature model of Jerusalem during Second Temple period. Then, to Yad Vashem, Memorial to the Holocaust, on the Mount of Remembrance. Return to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 6 Price : $55 Full Day Upper Galilee & Golan Heights with lunch First, a stop at Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached His famous "Sermon on the Mount". Next, drive to Safed, a holy city in Judaism and the center of the mystical Kabbalah. Stroll through the artists' colony and visit an ancient synagogue. Proceed to Golan Heights stopping for a tour and lunch at a kibbutz . Continue to Har Bental site of a former Israeli bunker. Next visit a kosher winery in Katzrin, the largest town in the Golan Heights. Return to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 9 hours. OnDay : 8 Price : $89 8 Day Classic Jordan Dinner Package After the day's sightseeing, enjoy dinner at your hotels in Amman and Petra. All dinners are international buffet style and include one soft drink or water.* Pre-purchasing these five dinners is both a convenience and a way to lock in the price for your meals regardless of currency fluctuations. *4 course meal if buffet is not available. OnDay : 9 Price : $175 Half Day Bethany This morning, travel to the religious site of Bethany to explore first-hand the foundations of Christianity. The site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany where Jesus was baptized has long been known from the Bible and from Byzantine and medieval texts. The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River in Jordan, only 15 minutes by car from the Dead Sea Hotel. The Bethany area site formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo. This area is also associated with the biblical account of how the Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias in Arabic) ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire. This is not to be confused with the village of Bethany near Jerusalem, where the Bible says Lazarus was raised from the dead. After the tour transfer back to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 14 Price : $75

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival transfer.